Old School Love

"Old School Love" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Lupe Fiasco. The song was released on October 14, 2013, in promotion of his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth. English singer Ed Sheeran contributed vocals to the song's hook. The song peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 18 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.

"Old School Love"
Single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Ed Sheeran
ReleasedOctober 14, 2013 (2013-10-14)
Recorded2013
GenreHip hop
Length4:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)DJ Frank E
Lupe Fiasco singles chronology
"Poor Decisions"
(2013)		 "Old School Love"
(2013)		 "Mission"
(2014)
Ed Sheeran singles chronology
"Everything Has Changed"
(2013)		 "Old School Love"
(2013)		 "I See Fire"
(2013)

Background

In February 2013, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran said that he was working in the studio with Lupe Fiasco. He told pressparty, "We have the same A&R in America and he just gave me about seven beats and said write choruses to all of these beats. Lupe loved one of them and is going to hop on it. I'm a massive Lupe Fiasco fan, so it's cool."[1] On October 9, 2013, Fiasco announced that the first single from his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth, would be a song featuring Ed Sheeran titled "Old School Love". Along with releasing the cover artwork for the single, he revealed it would be released to iTunes on October 14, 2013.[2]

Composition

In the song, Fiasco professes his love for old-school hip hop through his lyrics, as Ed Sheeran sings the soulful, laid-back hook.[3][4] Fiasco's lyrics reflect the changes hip-hop has gone through since the 1980s and 1990s, relating hip hop's loss of innocence to the crime and struggle currently plaguing his hometown Chicago.[5] Also, Fiasco gives reasons for his move from making political music and "runs through hip-hop's roots and gently critiques the present" era of hip hop.[6] Additionally, he references The Fat Boys, Melle Mel and pre-Law & Order Ice-T.[7] The DJ Frank E production is backed by a spare R&B-tinged, melodic piano-based instrumental.[3][5][8] Multiple publications such as Billboard and the Chicago Tribune compared its production sound to Kanye West's "Family Business" from West's debut album The College Dropout.[9][10][11] XXL referred to the song as a "sticky sweet ballad."[12]

Critical reception

Chris Payne of Billboard praised the song's crossover appeal.[9] John Sakamoto of The Toronto Star said, the "song's affection is old-school hip-hop, which means this smooth, frictionless ballad is 4 1/2 minutes of pure nostalgia."[13]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Coodie & Chike and filmed with Ed Sheeran in New York City. Coodie & Chike finished the video in Lupe Fiasco's hometown Chicago. It was premiered on December 9, 2013 on MTV.[14]

Chart performance

Release history
Country Date Format Label
United States October 14, 2013 Digital download[23]
October 15, 2013 Mainstream urban radio[24]
Urban contemporary radio
November 19, 2013 Contemporary hit radio[25]

References
  1. Baker, Soren (October 14, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Releases 'Old School Love' Single Featuring Ed Sheeran". HipHop DX. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  2. "Lupe Fiasco Announces First Single with Ed Sheeran". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  3. "Lupe Fiasco's 'Old School Love' single: Nostalgia sounds good". Newsday. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  4. Edna Gundersen (October 15, 2013). "Playlist: Lupe Fiasco, plus 10 more". USA Today. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  5. "Lupe Fiasco ft. Ed Sheeran – Old School Love | Listen". Djbooth.net. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  6. Christina Lee (October 18, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco's 'Tetsuo Youth' Avoiding Politics | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  7. "Hear Lupe Fiasco & Ed Sheeran Team Up for 'Old School Love'". 923now.cbslocal.com. October 14, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  8. "Lupe Fiasco's 'Old School Love' Feat. Ed Sheeran". Theboombox.com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  9. "Lupe Fiasco & Ed Sheeran Team Up On 'Old School Love': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  10. "Ed Sheeran Lupe Fiasco 'Old School Love' Single Release Date & Cover Art Now Available". Latin Post. October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  11. Luis Gomez (October 25, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco staying away from politics on new album". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  12. "Lupe Fiasco Recruits Ed Sheeran For 'Old School Love'". Xxlmag.com. October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  13. John Sakamoto (October 18, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco, Haim and David Bowie: Anti-Hit List for Oct. 19". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  14. http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/12/lupe-fiasco-old-school-love/
  15. "Australian-charts.com – Lupe Fiasco feat. Ed Sheeran – Old School Love". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  16. "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  17. "Charts.nz – Lupe Fiasco feat. Ed Sheeran – Old School Love". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  18. "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  19. "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  20. "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  21. "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  22. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  23. "iTunes Music – Old School Love (feat. Ed Sheeran) – Single by Lupe Fiasco". iTunes Store. October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  24. "Frequency News". Frequency News. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  25. http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=16691
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